News

Leedy Appointed New Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Fox Chase Cancer Center

PHILADELPHIA (August 7, 2000) -- R. Donald Leedy, C.P.A. of Moorestown, NJ, has been appointed executive vice president-administration and chief operating officer of Fox Chase Cancer Center by the Center's president and chief executive officer, Robert C. Young, M.D. Leedy had been vice president for finance and treasurer of Fox Chase since 1981.

In his new role, Leedy will oversee the daily operations of Fox Chase Cancer Center, including the hospital, research laboratories and ambulatory care. He will also be involved with the Center's extramural projects, including the Fox Chase Network of 22 community hospital-based cancer centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the development of the joint Fox Chase-Temple University Cancer Program. Leedy succeeds Francis J. McKay of Ft. Washington, Pa., who recently retired after 37 years at Fox Chase.

"Don Leedy has had a distinguished career at the Center as its chief financial officer and has an outstanding reputation for leadership both inside the institution and nationally among cancer center administrators," said Dr. Young. "He has my full support as well as that of the Fox Chase Board of Directors."

Leedy, 55, joined the Fox Chase staff in 1971. Previously he was senior staff accountant for Coopers and Lybrand in Philadelphia. He earned his bachelor's degree at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Md. and his M.B.A., at Philadelphia's Drexel University.

His first role at Fox Chase was as financial manager of the Institute for Cancer Research, which later joined with American Oncologic Hospital to form Fox Chase Cancer Center. Leedy became Institute treasurer in 1979 and chief financial officer for the Center in 1981. As CFO, he was responsible for the Center's annual operating budget, which is now more than $150 million.

"I'm proud to work with such an outstanding staff," said Leedy. "During my three decades at Fox Chase, I have watched the Center's enormous growth which is attributed to great leaders, thinkers and visionaries. Constant throughout this period are the dedicated men and women who care about the institution and its mission. I am confident about the future of Fox Chase Cancer Center because of our innovative science, great medicine and dedicated staff."

Fox Chase Cancer Center, one of the nation's first comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute in 1974, conducts basic and clinical research; programs of prevention, detection and treatment of cancer; and community outreach. For more information about Fox Chase activities, visit the Center's web site at: www.fccc.edu.

Fox Chase Cancer Center, part of the Temple University Health System, is one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence four consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. For more information, call 1-888-FOX CHASE or (1-888-369-2427).

Disclaimer: Temple University Health System (TUHS) neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents. Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System and by Temple University School of Medicine.